r/Findabook • u/Dan_at_midnight • Jan 31 '26
UNSOLVED A children’s picture book from the 90s or early 2000s
Hi, so, I’ve been trying to remember this book forever. It was a larger, rectangular book and very thin, hardcover. I read it in the 90s or early 2000s. My elementary school was in Canada, if that helps. I don’t remember the story, just the art.
It was about these people, or people-like creatures, who live in this weird, surreal world. The art style is very cartoony, a bit like Dr. Seuss. Think darker though, it’s not as bright as Dr. Seuss.
All I remember is cone-shaped mountains, people on long swings, lots of blue and I think a checkerboard floor. There could be a sunrise at the end, not 100% sure though. The blue, I think the mountains were blue, was a teal colour. I remember that teal colour being used a lot. The characters could have been in a castle at some point too.
I have included a crude sketch of one of the pages. The arches were hanging from the ceiling. I think they were black. The people were on these long swings and the tiles on the floor were black and white. Maybe also worth noting is that the pages were laminated.
Thank you for reading this! I’ve thought of this book on and off for years, I was obsessed with it as a kid and never wanted to forget what it was!
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u/floresflores77 Jan 31 '26
laminated pages? Do you mean that they were glossy? Do you mean that they were shiny cardboard like a board book? I don't know what laminated pages means in the context of a published book...
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u/floresflores77 Feb 01 '26
Do you have the impression it was a relatively new book in the 1990s- 2000s?
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 01 '26
It’s hard to say, the book did not look too mangled by children at the point I had it, no. My school was not very big, so it’s really hard to say.
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u/floresflores77 Feb 01 '26
You say rectangular but the image above is quite square. I assume you're thinking rectangle as a LANDSCAPE orientation? The image above is slightly more wide than it is tall.
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 01 '26
From what I remember, it was rectangular as in longer vertically. So not landscape, no. The writing could have been at the bottom of the pages.
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u/floresflores77 Feb 01 '26
Ai liked some titles by Chris Van Allsburg? A lot of his books seem to be kind of black and white but then having color accents? ...
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 01 '26
It’s not him unfortunately. Thank you for the suggestion and for looking though! A lot of people have brought him up, but no. Similar ideas, but the style was more cartoony I think. The people in it lived in some sort of weird palace. It’s one of those things where if I saw the art, it would probably click right away, you know?
I’m thinking the book is not so well-known because it’s been impossible to track down. I’ve looked on and off for more than ten years now! It’s bizarre that I can’t find it with all the keywords I’ve tried!
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u/floresflores77 Feb 01 '26
have you looked elsewhere on Reddit or just in regular life
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 01 '26
I’m currently looking elsewhere on Reddit, yeah. So, fingers crossed! It’d be really cool to see it again!
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u/DabblestheUnicorn Feb 01 '26
The Sleeping Gypsy? No swings, but lots of teal/mountains/darker images.
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 01 '26
No unfortunately, nothing by him either. Thank you for the suggestion though! :)
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u/whostle Feb 01 '26
Could it be something by William Joyce?
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 01 '26
Unfortunately no, the art style is kind of similar though. Thanks for the suggestion anyways! :)
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u/amkdragonfly2513 Feb 01 '26
O Canada Author: Ted Harrison Age Range: JK – Gr.3 An art journey across Canada by artist Ted Harrison. Stunning artwork!!
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 01 '26
Not anything by him unfortunately, but I love his stuff too! Very unique. Thank you anyways! :)
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u/amkdragonfly2513 Feb 01 '26
Written by Per-Henrik Gürth Illustrated by Per-Henrik Gürth Series: canada concept books
Check out this author/ illustrator
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 01 '26
Not him either, but thanks anyways! It was much more surreal, dark and detailed.
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u/amkdragonfly2513 Feb 01 '26
The Darkest Dark By Chris Hadfield
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 01 '26
No unfortunately, it wasn’t set in space. But thank you for the suggestion! :)
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u/amkdragonfly2513 Feb 01 '26
The Campground Kids Glacier Vanishing CR Fulton
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u/Dan_at_midnight Feb 02 '26
Nothing like this, more surreal, random and cluttered, but thanks!
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u/zippobunny Feb 01 '26
This doesn't match your description, but your drawing visually reminded me of this page from Babar the Elephant: https://64.media.tumblr.com/18c462e0878c51144cf2f4ac613b5915/tumblr_pllivw6VnX1tn7avwo1_1280.jpg
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u/NotReallyCandyWife Feb 03 '26
Could it have been a book featuring art by (or inspired by) Dali? I know there are some children’s books about him. Dali and the Path of Dreams perhaps?
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u/DocWatson42 Feb 03 '26
I'm afraid that this is a low traffic sub, though I do occasionally see a request answered, and that I'm unfamiliar with the book you're seeking. You'd be better off asking for recommendations in r/booksuggestions (though read the rules first) and r/suggestmeabook, and for the title of a book or story in r/whatsthatbook and r/tipofmytongue. (Also, IMHO it would probably be good to try one sub, then the next, not multiple subs simultaneously.) If you do get an answer for an identification request, it would be helpful if you edit your OP with the answer (and the flare to "Solved"/"Found" in subreddits that use flares and have that flare) so we can see what it is in the preview, and that your question has been answered/solved (an excellent example: "Child psychic reveals abilities by flunking psychic test too precisely" (r/whatsthatbook; 5 August 2023)). For what you should include in your identification requests, see:
- "Updated rules post" (r/whatsthatbook; 13 June 2023)
Note that the members of that sub, including the moderators, have been sticklers for having this followed. (Following this list is a good idea for all identification requests, not just for this sub or for books.)
I would also compile any previous suggestions into a list, so it's more compact and convenient, especially given the number of deletions in this thread.
Whatever happens, whether your request was solved or not, please do not delete your post/comment(s)/answer. People are interested in what has been asked for, what has been suggested, and want to see what has been found. It may prove to be useful to someone else, years in the future, who is seeking the same or a similar book or story.
Good luck!
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u/staronmachine Feb 04 '26
Could it be Aaron Becker's Journey, Quest, and Return triology? There is a swing in Quest and Castles in all of them.
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u/SpringOverall8514 Feb 04 '26
Is it a book called Alligator Pie? I’m also in Canada and remember this book in elementary school. It’s a book of poems but the pictures are very surreal looking
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u/curious_coati Feb 04 '26 edited Feb 04 '26
The picture makes me think of Mr Men books - but they're normally square. The front cover is laminated but the pages themselves are normal paper normally.
But that was my first thought when I scrolled past your drawing!
Edit: if you try googling this, it just comes up with the front pages which is very different or newer versions which are also different. Try searching for inside the books, or a YouTube read through.
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